NEW BEDFORD­ — Calling attention to what they say is a "climate of fear" at the high school, about 100 teachers, parents, students and others gathered Monday outside the School Committee meeting.

Bundled up against the cold and holding candles, they stood outside Keith Middle School where the committee meeting was under way.

The meeting started at 6 p.m. The vigil didn't begin until 6:30 p.m. when committee members were already inside. In the building, they either didn't seem to notice or paid little attention to the crowd.

"The purpose of this vigil was to bring attention to the climate of fear that now exists within our school system," said Lou St. John, president of the New Bedford Educators Association.

"We want the School Committee to know that we are here, they need to listen to the teachers of New Bedford Public Schools, because they are the experts and many of us feel that they are not paying attention to what we are saying."

Those who attended included parents, teachers, community leaders, children, and retirees, St. John said.

New Bedford High School has been designated a Level 4 school by the state, the next to lowest ranking. Superintendent Pia Durkin will oversee a turnaround plan that includes replacing 50 percent of the staff.

Durkin has said that number will include those leaving the school and those who are retiring.

Retiree Carol Strupczewski who said she taught at New Bedford High School for 31 years, helped organize the event.

"It was a very respectful ... silent march. You know we teachers are very classy people, and we are fighting for what is right," Strupczewski said.

Strupczewski said the current administration at the school blames teachers, and is not supportive of teachers' disciplinary actions.

"The only way you're going to solve the problem is that you have to clamp down on having total discipline, make the students and their parents accountable," she said. "This has got to stop."

Nancy Hawes, a teacher at New Bedford High School, said she came out to support other teachers at the school.

"I think that the superintendent is unfair firing 50 percent of (teachers), she's made everybody so miserable," Hawes said.

"The superintendent is the chief, and she should have all of us ... on her side, she should be having us work with her, we are the ones that know what's going on," Hawes said.